Liverpool should strongly consider adopting a more defensive approach when they take on Manchester City on Sunday.
That is according to Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, who believes the defending champions must be pragmatic when welcoming Pep Guardiola's side to Anfield.
City have been in imperious form in recent weeks, opening up a three point lead over Manchester United in second, with a game in hand still to play.
In contrast, Liverpool's title defence has continued to stutter with Wednesday night's home defeat to Brighton leaving the Reds seven points adrift of City, having played a game more.
And despite Liverpool's natural tendency to attack sides at home, Merson believes Jurgen Klopp must adopt a more defensive approach to ensure they don't lose the game.
"Liverpool might have to park the bus against Manchester City - and are now in danger of missing out on the top four," he wrote in his Daily Star column.
"The fear factor has well and truly gone and they’ve just lost at home to Brighton and Burnley.
"I’m not sure about Liverpool now. They are in trouble. They are starting to become a team that has to be a full pelt to win football matches.
"The last couple of years they have managed to win sometimes without playing well. But if they play badly now they lose.
"If they beat City somehow this weekend they could be back in the title race. It's that tight up there. But will they?
"I think we might see Liverpool park the bus and play on the counter-attack. If they don’t, they could end up getting a hiding from City.
"Liverpool are 100 per cent in danger of missing out on the top four the way they are going - and City are flying.
"Liverpool have got to be careful now. They are losing matches you don’t expect them to, and the teams around them are winning.
"Jurgen Klopp said recently that top four was the aim, but with their form at home at the moment, with no fans inside Anfield, there’s a real danger they miss out.
"You’ve got to remember what an achievement it is for Liverpool to be up there at all with all these injuries."
